Results 16,281-16,300 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Reliefs (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 17 together. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport or in decisions on fares. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority in December 2009, the NTA has responsibility for the regulation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Reliefs (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I am told, as I said, that it is not intended to offer an extension. However, there is a refund capability. Many people have opted for that but others have not. The Deputy's constituent might be informed of that as one option. The proposal implied in the Deputy's question about having new more flexible TaxSaver supports is a good one. Post pandemic, we will likely be in a situation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Reliefs (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: We are considering a range of extensions to PSO supports for commercial and public bus operators. We have maintained services throughout the pandemic even though the numbers have been low. We expect a return to 100% carrying capacity on all public transport from 2 August, so there will not be restrictions, per se, on travel. However, it is not certain that the numbers will start to return....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The capital budget for my Department for 2021 is more than €2.5 billion. My Department reports monthly to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on expenditure versus budget profile. In addition, I am also providing a quarterly report to the Government in respect of progress on the investment of capital. Regarding the capital position at the end of quarter 1, expenditure...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: Those non-county roads are in private ownership.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I am sorry, but I am uncertain as to the definitions the Deputy is using. Funding is always being sought for various categories of road, but the priority is the public road network. There has been significant investment in local roads across the country and there has been no delay in the spending allocated. However, there has been a certain underspend because of Covid. Certain...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The carry-over from last year was €110 million, of which €41 million is still due to be spent. When I describe a road as a private road, I do not deny that there is a public right of way or that such a road is important. As the Deputy said, though, there is a considerable requirement within the council's own works to maintain and upgrade the public road network. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: To reassure the Deputies, the profile of regional and local road grants for the year to date was for us to have spent €39 million. Despite the pandemic and the differences, the actual spending for the year to date is €36.39 million. Most of the works do not start until spring, namely, in April or May. We do not typically do those works between January and March. Thus the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputy for his question. I propose to take question Nos. 13, 64, 98 and 197 together. I take this opportunity to set out the broad framework of horizontal support measures the Government has made available to the taxi industry in response to this pandemic. The industry has been badly affected by Covid-19. Passenger demand for services has dropped and many small public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy is right and that is a real difficulty but we have done everything to try to support the taxi industry. In the relevant negotiations, the Minister for Social Protection made an exception by allowing people in this industry to have an income while on the PUP, and also to cover the expenses. I absolutely recognise that that does not apply to people above a certain age limit but...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I am happy to put on record that the taxi industry provides a vital public service. It will start coming back. It is slow at the moment, as it should be. We do not want a complete return immediately. We can all see this staged, step-by-step process of bringing life back and of people starting to travel again. People are nervous initially and that is understandable after a year and a half...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Service Obligation (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 provides a statutory power to the NTA to establish a fare structure for public passenger transport services. Following the establishment of the NTA in 2009, the authority has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services, provided under PSO contracts. Bus Éireann is responsible for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Service Obligation (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy. That is a very good example of an anomaly where the fare system is not based on similar distance. Bus Éireann, like all transport companies, is going through its own challenges in managing Covid but when coming out of it, we want it to come back stronger, both in the work it does on Expressway and on the PSO services, and in the work it does in supporting...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Service Obligation (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I understand there is a lot of good work going on in Waterford in terms of it setting itself as an example of a sustainable city. It needs to grow as a capital of the south-east in that way, and part of that is recognising that places like Tramore, which now has a population of almost 15,000 and is, as the Deputy said, a dormitory town, are inextricably linked to Waterford in so many...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Bodies (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the opportunity to clarify the role of the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs), sometimes known as the Taxi Advisory Committee. The Committee was established under the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 to provide both the Minister and the NTA with advice in relation to small public service vehicles and their drivers. Neither the NTA nor...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The temporary closure of Aer Lingus's crew base at Cork Airport aligns with the airports planned closure to carry out construction works on its main runway and associated infrastructure. In addition to the announced lay offs for the period, the airline also reported that they will be seeking a number of redundancies. The airline has indicated that such immediate actions and wider structural...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question on Cork Airport. As the Deputy will be aware, in recognition of the significant challenges being faced by airports, particularly airports like Cork, the Government established a new Covid19 Regional State Airports Programme earlier this year. This Programme, with an available budget of €32.1m, is providing both capital and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: Background As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ship Disposal (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I wish to thank Deputy Buckley for raising this matter. As the Deputy may be aware, the relevant legislation that allows for the removal of abandoned vessels in Irish waters such as that referred to by the Deputy is the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993. This Act gives effect to the 1989 International Convention on Salvage of which Ireland is a signatory state and sets out...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport in Ireland. The CIÉ Group has two pension schemes, namely the Regular Wages Scheme (“RWS”) which covers frontline staff such as bus and train drivers across the three CIÉ companies; and the 1951 superannuation scheme (“1951 Scheme”) which...